Asked about conflicts on set, Russell got a laugh by answering, "I don't know what you're talking about," while Cuaron said a director doesn't seek out conflict, "he is just trying to figure out the way through his movie."

"The hardest thing as a director is to not know what your inspiration is," said Russell. "There's a music, there's a rhythm to it. And that's what I'm listening to."

"It was really because the way I work is so particular, and there is a high degree of improvisation, but it's a particular form of improvisation, and it's not to everybody's taste, and you have to accept that," Greengrass said.

The directors also took issue with the notion that 2013 has been a great year for television, but not for film.

"Oh, come on. I disagree," said Daniels, while McQueen added, "Every film here wouldn't be sitting at this table it weren't exceptional."